Carr Lake Campground on Forest Road 9350

Right on the edge of the Mogollon Rim. Fire pit, FREE, large area with 2 bars Verizon signal. No amenities. Pack in, pack out.

Great boondocking spot off the main road as you would be heading to knoll lake just past Woods Canyon Recreation area . Beautiful setting in the Forrest. No amenities, located near the Rim. Peaceful and quiet. open space. Numbered sites. The main road is a good well maintained dirt/gravel road. Once you turn off on fr 9350 Campground (which is marked) to go towards the sites it is a bit rough but we were able to make with our Class A, just slow going. Sites are far apart, large with 10 person max and 14 day limit.

Stayed here multiple times this summer, meet both sets of camp host who were very nice. Sites are just off the road all have fire pits and as far as I know fires are still ok (always double check). Active campground with families all over the place, slight noise pollution from generators but quiet hours at ten help. Overall amazing views, great sites, and so good cell reception if you’re interested

I love camping along the rim here. Makes for great views looking down the rim into Payson.

I got lucky and arrived on a Saturday morning to find site two open. it has great hiking good cell phone reception I was able to stream a football game. the trailhead has restrooms.

Spent a couple days on the rim side. Cabled my dog to stop her from following squirrels into the abyss. Trailer was about 40 feet from the edge with unparalleled views. I'd stay away from the rim edge on windy days. No worries during our stay.

I've car camped a few other places since my first time camping here last year. Nothing compares. Sites on the cliff side are hard to get but I came up here on June 1 and many sites were open. I guess everyone who came up for Memorial Day weekend had already left. I was lucky enough to get site 35. It's a huge site off the road with a lot of space of between other sites. A friend of my was in the area and stopped by to see the site. He said he saw a wolf cross the road on the way out. I also believe I heard my camp neighbors tell the camp host that were was a rattle snake on their site. So be careful out there. I am going to try to snag a site here again soon.

This campground is free to stay in max of 14days, it’s so quiet and the views are spectacular, not far from the lake if you have a car but too far to walk.

Luckily, we found an open spot on the Rim arriving on Thanksgiving day. Several open spots on the other side of the road. Chilly weather with some snow flurries overnight. The spots face west and make for some awesome sunset memories. Be careful at night on the Rim side for sure! I can imagine this is impossible in the summer because it's just so cool.

This is my favorite site! Free, beautiful dispersed camping! I have been up every other weekend and am obsessed!

I drove up on a Sunday afternoon in the hopes some weekenders were leaving. I had my heart set on getting a rim camping site. They were all taken. But I stopped and talked to a couple that I thought was leaving...they had just gotten there minutes before me and offered to let me stay on their site. Super thoughtful! The sites are large with a good amount of space between each camp site. A friend got me a pop-up outhouse kind-of as a joke but I sure am glad I had it. There are no public vault toilets near by.  

I can't wait to go again. These are tough spots to get. I'd say it would be next to impossible to get a one on a Friday or Saturday.

Camping that’s free with an amazing view. Yes, this place has it all. Plus there are trails nearby. One of which goes down to the creek about 3 miles away. We will be going back someday!

Thank you to the others that post reviews. My nephew and I went up and stayed 3 days 2 nights and it was great. We managed to grab a spot (#16)that didn’t have a view but we were thankful because it was full and didn’t seem that anyone was leaving any time soon. And to see the view was just a 20 foot walk. Also we were right by a trailhead so we did have passerby’s but no worries. There is a host that comes around so that feel safe and welcoming. No bathrooms or showers which is fine by me bc it means less people. This spot offers great views without having to go as off road at my fav spot in Flagstaff (The End of the World). No complaints at all. Oh and we did have cell service so that was a bonus for safety. Thanks friends for your posts.

These spots are not secret anymore. Tried to find a spot this weekend and it was completely full. Wasted day. Limit is 14 day stay. Some of the spots looked like the residents were there far longer. This is the danger with dispersed camping. Really is a shame. Views are amazing.

All along Rim Road there are tons of dispersed camping sites that offer sweeping views of the forest below. Knoll Lake, Bear Canyon Lake, Woods Canyon Lake, and Willow Springs Lake are all right along that ridge and pretty easy to get to. Check the weather...closes in winter.

This spot has great views since half of the sites are directly along the Mogollon Rim, but ultimately it can be tough to grab a spot since first come first serve and it’s a very well known, free campsite. The first time we visited and wanted to camp here all spots were taken. There are other spots in the area to camp in the event you don’t get a spot, you just don’t get the view of being on the rim. (See my reviews if you want to know more about FR 84 in the event you don’t get a spot at FR9350.)

The second time we came up we managed to grab a spot on the rim side of the road, spot #30, around noon. We saw one or two vehicles drive up and back the dirt road with gear in the back searching for a spot within minutes of grabbing the site, so how we managed to nab it I’m not sure—the previous campers must have left minutes before we arrived.

Because some of these sites are next to the Rim without any barrier between you and the drop off, this site may not be for those with young children or pets that wish to roam. If you do come with young kids or roaming animals it may be best to look for a spot on the far side, or the side that is not directly on the Rim.

This site has two pit style toilets at the entrance; however, we bushed it. Some sites have a picnic table but some do not— if you are not in an RV or camper and require a camp table, it is best to bring one. (Our site did not have a picnic table when we visited but we did pack a camp table and were happy we did.) In addition, it sometimes has a camp host; I did not notice a camp host the first time we drove thru but there was one there the second time when we got the chance to camp here. We did not encounter any noisy neighbors while we were here. Depending on when you visits, weather may be unpredictable. While weather was perfect during our visit in early July, I have seen and heard weather can change quickly on the Rim. It is also good to know this campsite can be very dusty; so I highly recommend bringing a pack or two of baby wipes and any allergy meds you might need. A headlamp is a good idea too since you always want to be able to see at nighttime being so close to a large drop off. Last, I have Verizon and got service at our campsite.

First review; very first time camping. I wasn't sure what to expect or if I'd even make it through the one night I'd scheduled (TheWife was confident I'd bail) and when I got drenched to the bone on my afternoon hike, it was even more in doubt. But it cleared up, mostly, and the locale was so beautiful and cool and refreshing I toughed it out.

A mix of smaller and larger, numbered spots with a decent amount of space between. The larger ones easily accommodated trailers/RVs; I think the spot I selected would have been a bit tight for anything more than a smaller popup trailer. The spots on the south side of the road are right at the edge of the Mogollon rim, so they're a bit more dangerous for pets and small children (or drunk adults) but have the advantage of being right on the rim.

I could hear a neighbor who decided to blast their music till too damn late and a bit after midnight someone incredibly inconsiderate drove slowly down the forest road honking their horn intermittently. I'm trying to convince myself they were looking for a lost friend, family member, or pet so that I don't think they were that rude. If you're looking for isolation, these spots won't necessarily give it to you, though some of the larger ones set back further from the road would clearly be better on that front.

Fire rings; plenty of flat space for tents; plenty of sturdy, well-spaced trees for hammocks.

The road's passable for most passenger cars.

Some gorgeous hiking trails right near by, including Drew Trail which you can take down the rim to pick up the Highline.

So I took my Dobie up and camped for a second time, just the two of us. Went up on a Friday and arrived at 3pm. I got the very last site, all the way at the end of 9350. There were big piles of branches and leaves left from last year when they thinned out the forest. Huge muddy deep ruts in the ground. Very few trees at this particular site. Also quite aways from the actual rim. Absolutely no cell service on this spot. 1.2 miles to the vault toilet, which was an easy walk.

Long story short, not the best site, but I was just glad to nab one on a Friday. Everyone was quiet by 9:30pm. My neighbors were friendly, waving and saying hello and respecting each other's space. Lots of privacy.

Solo camping experience, first timer. Went on a Sunday and tent camped one night. Scoped the site out first and found a lot of great options available. There were still plenty of people up there that I wasn't totally alone, but enough sites opened up that there was a good selection. I opted for one right on the rim itself. The hosts were there and there were clean supplied vault toilets within a minute drive. Went for a hike at Woods Canyon Lake. Each site was just far enough away that you couldn't really hear each other but you were sort of in sight of people if needed. But still private and very quiet. You can choose between a rim site or go across the street and opt for a forest site. There is cell service.

If you’re looking for peace and quiet and incredible views you’ve found here at this campground! If you’re lucky enough to get a spot with views you won’t be disappointed. Watching the skies change from beautiful to threatening rain is amazing. Come see for yourself. Highly recommended

Very cool being right on the rim, did an evening hike to the rim from our camp site. Camping was very busy but we were lucky enough to find a spot on a sat morning. They do have bathrooms but they were a short drive from where we were. Went and visited a few other areas with the ranger and there are a ton of big sites around. Will be going back again.

This is easily one of the better established campgrounds on the rim. Campgrounds are more dispersed here, leaving more room between you and any neighbors. Four star rating because I have had exceptionally loud neighbors here more than once.

There are camp sites that are located right on the edge of the rim. Please mind this if you have children, dogs, or are drinking at night. The drop off the rim is significant enough that I give it Jacobs survival rate of ZERO percent. So, please be careful.

Another tip of advice, weather on the rim can seemingly change without notice. The mountains themselves can affect weather patterns, but being this elevated in the Ponderosa Pines makes it nearly impossible to see weather coming from the east (of this campground ) I have personally been up here multiple times when it was blue skies and sunny, and within minutes was under serious downpour and even hail (twice). BSA motto; BE PREPARED!

besides that, Rim Road (FS 300) is very well maintained meaning most vehicles can drive the dirt road. the turn into this camp ground, and road within, is not as well maintained, but still manageable for most passenger vehicles.

There are numerous hiking trails up here, and a handful of lakes throughout this area where fishing and non motorized boats are allowed. chevelon lake is my favorite and most isolated, yet is a mile hike downhill to lake, which means 1 mile hike uphill to get back.

Overall, this is a fantastic spot with lots of possible activities for groups of all sizes and ages, as well as superiors views.

We have been camping here for years. Beautiful pine trees and sites right on the Mogollon Rim. 10 min drive to woods canyon lake which is stunningly beautiful. This is one of many dispersed FR near Woods canyon lake. 2 hours from the scorching heat of Phoenix, we enjoy the beautiful shady weather. We get good cell service also which is always a plus when you have kids at home. You can get water for free by the lake and a lake store for anything you need. Not sure how much the dump station and trash is since we’ve never used it. You can rent boats & kayaks at the lake also. The trout fishing is great! We have never left empty handed. There is a ton of space between the camp sites so you have privacy. The roads are dirt and some washboard areas, but we have driven in a small car packed with camping gear and a 4x4 truck towing a camper and never had a problem. There is one vault toilet near the entrance of FR 9350. I believe all sites have a fire ring, at least all the ones we have stayed at. You won’t be disappointed!